Self-aligning bearing



1951 E. A. ARP 2,573,532

SELF -ALIGNING BEARING Filed Aug. 16, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENTOR [WALD A. APP

AMW

ATTORNEY Oct. 30, 1951 Filed Aug. 16, 1948 Fla. 2

E. A. ARP

SELF ALIGNING BEARING 5 Sheet's-Sheet 2 A 7' TOP E. A. ARP

' SELF-ALIGNING BEARING Oct. 30, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 16, 1948 [#441 H ,4. APP By ,01. y.

A 7'7'0/PA/EV Patented Oct. 30, 1951 Ewald A. Arp, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Tobin-Arp Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application August 16, 1948, Serial No. 44,442

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a self alining bearing.

An object of the invention is to provide a self alining bearing of simple, practical, efiicient, new and improved construction.

A further object is to provide a self alining bearing wherein will be incorporated desirable and improved features and characteristics novel 'both as individual entities of the self alining bearing and in combination with each other.

And a further object is to provide a self alining bearing of construction and operative in the manner as hereinafter set forth.

With the above objects in view, as well as others which will appear as the specification proceeds,

the invention comprises the construction, ar-

rangement and combination of parts as now to be fully described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being understood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative and intended in no way in a limiting sense, changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts being permissible as long as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a self alining bearing made according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken as on lin 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken as on line 4-4 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view corresponding generally with the disclosure of Fig. 2 but showing parts of the self alining bearing in different relative positions.

Speaking generally, the self alining bearing which the invention presents includes a stationary hOusing l integrally or rigidly supported, in

. any suitable and convenient manner, upon a frame ll itself rigidly supported; a cage l2 within the stationary housing ID, a plurality of blocks, four as disclosed, each denoted I 3, within the cage, a retainer ring I4 for the cage, a lock nut I for the retainer ring, and a take-up ring l6 for the blocks I3.

The stationary housing In is constituted as an annular member open at one of its ends, its right end as disclosed in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and provided at its opposite end with an interiorly extending annular flange'll. The annular flange ll provides spaced apart, interiorly facing,

arc shape bearing surfaces, four as shown, each,

represented l8, spaced at ninety degrees apart, and said annular flange I1 is cut away, as indicated at l9, at locations between adjacent arc shape bearing surfaces 18. In the disclosure as made, there are are shape bearing surfaces I8 diametrically opposite each other, and also cut away portions l9 diametrically opposite each other. The are shape bearing surfaces l8 are all in a single spherical surface and in a single plane in direction transversely of the longitudinal axisof the stationary housing H1.

The cage I2 is constituted as a hollowed out part-spherical member having externally facing, arc shape bearing surfaces, four as shown, each designated 20, spaced at ninety degrees apart, and the external surface of said cage is cut away, as denoted at 2|, at locations between adjacent arc shape bearing surfaces 20. There is an arc shape bearing surface 20 engaged with each of the arc shape bearing surfaces l8, and said are shape bearing surfaces 20 are all in a single spherical surface which is in fact the same spherical surface as that in which the arc shape bearing surfaces [8 are situated.

The-retainer ring 14 for the cage i2 is constituted as an annular element Within an annular space of the self alining bearing between a portion of the stationary housing In at and adjacent to its open end and an external portion of said cage in, spaced relation to the interiorly extending annular flange ll. Stated otherwise, said retainer ring I 4 and internally extending annular flan e I! are in alined relation in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cage 12. An external surface 22 of the retainer ring 14 at an inner part thereof is of cylindrical configuration to be snugly slidable inwardly and outwardly along an internal cylindrical surface of the stationary housing H) at and adjacent to its open end, and an internal surface of said retainer ring provides arc shape bearing surfaces 23. There is an arc shape bearing surface 23 engaged with each of the arc shape bearing surfaces 20, and said retainer ring I4 is cut away, as indicated at 24, at locations between adjacent arc shape bearing surfaces 23. Said arc shape bearing surfaces 23 are all in a single spherical surface which is in fact the same spherical surface as that in which the arc shape bearing surfaces 18 and 20 are situated.

Means for adjusting the retainer ring l4 invwardly and outwardly, toward and away from the internally extending annular flange I1, and

for maintaining said retainer ring in position to cause the arc shape bearing surfaces l8, 20'and 23, 20, respectively, to be in engaged relation, consists of screw bolts 25 extending through and having their heads countersunk in said inwardly extending annular flange I1 and engaged in internally threaded openings 26 extending through the retainer ring. There are four screw bolts 25 in the disclosure as made, and said screw boltsare ingalined relation'itoiian'd equally spaced from the'longitudinal axis of the cage I2.

The outer end portion of the retainer ring I4 includes an external thread 21, and the lock nut I has an internal thread 28 adapted to be turned down upon said external thread 21 until said lock nut I5 is engaged {against the open, adjacent end of the stationary housing lllto cause the retainer ring I4 to be secured against the possibility of turning movement; nut I5 of course will be situated loosely, on the retainer ring I l until .said retainer ring 'is adjusted to its intended and proper position, and

- after adjustment of :said retainer ring is ;ac-

' complished said lock nut will be turned down against the stationary housing I0.

It -will be apparent thatthe inwardly exte-ding annular flange IT and the retainer ring I4 will, the-one incooperation with .the other, mainout part-spherical member or cage, and there is a block I3 within eachof said-longitudinally extending slots 29 The blocks I3 are bearing elements of the self alining bearing; and the longitudinally extending-slots 29 are disposed at ninety degrees apart, therebeing longitudinally extending slots 29,29 disposed diametrically opposite each other in direction transversely of the hollowed out part-spherical member or cage I2. The longitudinally extending slots '29 are contiguous :with a central passageway 30 through the'hollowed out part-spherical member orcage I2 for freely receiving a shaft, such as3I, to be supported in the self alining bearing, and each'longitudinally extending sloti29 is disposed radially of the longitudinal axis of said hollowed out part-spherical member or cage. The longitudinally extending, radially disposed vrectilinear slots 29are'all of the same size and configuration or construction.- Each is bounded at its base or exterior by'a fiat 'camming surface .32 which is disposed in oblique relation to the longitudinal axis of the;cageJI2 and: ex-

tends exteriorlyiof said cage in direction from the internallylextending annular flange Ii toward the retainer ring I4, and atits opposite sides by spacediap'art, parallel surfaces 33, 33 which are disposed radially of the cage I2. --And, too, each flat camming surface 32 lies in a plane which is perpendicular to the planes including the spaced apart, parallel surfaces-33,33 bounding the corresponding rectilinear slot 29.

- The blocks or bearing elements I3 arev of duplic ate construction. Each isibounded at its exterior side by flat .Lcamming' surface '34, engaged against and, slidablegover therflat 'camniing surface 32 bounding thelbasei'onexterior or: the: rec-- The lock.

4 tilinear slot 29 containing the corresponding block or bearing element, at its opposite sides by spaced apart, parallel surfaces 35, 35 engaged against and slidable over the spaced apart, parallel sur- 5 faces 33, 33 bounding the'opposite sides of the corresponding rectilinear slot, and at its interior side by a part-cylindrical bearing surface 35 dis- :zposed longitudinally of the cage I2 and adapted to be engaged against a shaft, such as 3|, when disposed in the self alining bearing. The construction and arrangement are such that the -bloc1;s.-or. bearing elements I3 can be adjusted along the rectilinear slots 29 in one direction, !toward3the left in Fig. 2, to cause the part-cylins di ical bearing surfaces 35 to be fitted to shafts such as 3I-of smaller diameter, and in opposite direction, ;.toward the right in said Fig. 2, to cause said'part-cylindrical bearing surfaces to be fitted te' shafts such as 3i of larger diameter. lhe construction and arrangement also are such that the iparteeylindri'cal'rbearing surfaces can ,be;made to lie in'zazsingle cylindrical surface concentric "Withz'tlie longitudinal axisof the cage -I2by adjustment of the blocksj-or bearing elements -I3 251170.- .apositions-where "all of :said blocks :01 bearing elements areequi-distantlyjspaced from said lon- .gitudinal axis .ofsaid cage; independently of 'the diameter of a shaft, .such as -3 I, =to1be supported in the-self alining bearing; that is; independently of whetherashaft to be supported is of larger or smaller diameter. "Eachjblock or :bearinggelement I3 tapers indirectionirorn the retainer rringcndz ofthe self ;a;-1in;ing bearing toward-the endithereofiha'ving the -interiorl-yextendinggannu- 'lar flange-41., The smaller end of each-blocker bearingelement is bounded :by a flat surface per- .pendicular-to thelongitudinal axiso f the caged 2, as is also the adjacent :end .of' said cage, "and the larger end 20f each black .or ,bearing element "is 4o ibonnded by ;a flat surface '3'! perpendicular to said longitudinal :axis of the cage.

'IZhe cage :42'includes a cylindrical extension 38 --at the end thereof opposite thevinter-ior-ly extending annular flange ll which is in surrotmd- 45 ing relation to the :blocks or :bearingelements-and projects beyond the larger ends of saidblocks or bearing elements at the corresponding end of the self-alining bearing. Said cylindrical-exteni sio'ns38 inclu'des'an "internal'thread. 39 which receives an external thread 40 upon thetak'e-gup ringtqIfiz for the" blocks or vbearing elements I3. Said take-up ring is bounded at its :innerend by an annularvsurface 4i disposed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinalgax-is ;of' the cage I2 and {parallel andalined with and disposed outwardlyiof each of. the'fiat surfacesfiv'l. The ,constructionixand arrangement are such thatthe take-up ring I6 can be rotatably adjusted in -the cylindrical extension .538 to cause all of1thebl'ocks GO "or bearing elements Iii-to be simultaneouslyforced .inwardlyof the'cage I2 jthuscto cause said bloc-ks ,or'bearing elements to Ice-concurrently adjusted interiorly of. said .cage to equal extent. Said' take up ring of course willpreclu de removal of the blocks or'bearing elements I3 from the correispondingeend of theflcagepIL 7 j 'Lockingscrew bolts for the blocks or hearing elements I3 are each indicated 42; Each blockior'bearingelement includes an internally 7 threaded transverse :opening .QSalined with a slot 3 flucontiguous' with and, extending radially; outwardly from a-rectilinear slot"29.-- Each radial islotfid iSJJOf dimension substantially equal "to :the diameter of each. internally ;threaded"openingz 13 J-i1f11zd11'60ti01'1 'circumferentially cf the cage 11*:2 :and

of greater dimension in the direction of the longitudinal axis'of said cage. That is,. each radial slot 44 is elongated in direction'lengthwise of the cage I 2. There-is a locking screw bolt 42 for each block or bearing element 13. The locking screw bolts-extend freely through the radial slots 44, are jthreadedinto the transverse openings 43 and "have their' heads disposed in concavities 55 in the external surface of the cage I2. Said locking screw bolts-when turned home obviously will fasten the blocks or bearing elements I3 in fixed relation to said cage. The locking screw bolts of course will be loose during adjustment of said blocks or bearing elements by manipulation of the take-up ring l6, and after adjustment of the blocks or bearing elements is accomplished, said locking screw bolts will be turned home. Evidently, said take-up ring and the locking screw bolts Willin cooperation fixedly retain saidblocks or bearing elements in any adjusted position to which set in the cage 1 2. The obvious reason for providing elongated radial slots such as 44 is to permit adjustment of the blocks or bearing elements longitudinally of the cage while the locking screw bolts 42 are assembled with said blocks or hearing elements and loosely disposed in said elongated radial slots.

Clearance openings 46, between adjacent rectilinear slots 29 and extending longitudinally through the cage l2 in contiguous relation to the central passageway 30, are for clearance of an expanding mandrel, or like entity, upon a shaft such as 3| to be situated in the self alining bear ing.

Self alining bearings made according to the present invention ordinarily will be employed in pairs, or there may be more than two of the self alining bearings in alinement, to receive a shaft such as 3|. The shaft will be situated within the cage of each of alined self alinin bearings and supported by and engaged with the part-cylindrical bearing surfaces 36 of the blocks or bearing elements l3. The cage l2 and said blocks or bearing elements of each bearing are constituted as a unitary structure when the blocks or bearing elements after adjusted are secured in the rectilinear slots 29 by the take-up ring and the locking screw bolts in the manner as hereinbefore set forth. The part-spherical bearing surfaces l8 and 23 of the interiorly extending annular flange l1 and the retainer ring M, respectively, engage the part-spherical hearing surfaces of the cage l2 at spaced apart locations in such manner that said cage is retained within the stationary housing l0 against the possibility of accidental displacement and so that the cage can have rocking movement in any direction relative to said stationary housing and retainer ring. The cage l2 and the unit with which said cage is joined, comprised as the stationary housing I0 and the retainer ring M, are in fact connected in the same manner as are the joined elements of a universal joint so that said cage is mounted for swinging movement in any direction thus to permit the part-cylindrical bearing surfaces 36 to become readily and easily longitudinally alined with a shaft such as 3| in any self alining bearing made according to the principles of the invention.

The cut-away portions l9, 2| and 24 in the interiorly extending annular flange I1, cage l2 and retainer ring M, respectively, are provided to the end that the cage can be removable from and insertable in the stationary housing while said retainer ring is in assembled position. To

render the cage capable of removal it is merely necessary to rotate said cage ninety degrees from its position as'in the drawings-and the cage can be replaced by reversal of the movements employed to remove it. f

What is'claimed is: 1

1. In combination, a hollowed out cage having a longitudinally extending central passageway and radial slots disposed outwardly of and in contiguous relation to said central passageway,

circumferentially spaced bearing elements in said radials'lots having interiorly facing bearing surfaces of part-cylindrical configuration disposed longitudinally of said cage, there being clearance "openings between said bearing elements extending longitudinally through the cage in contiguous relation to said central passageway, and means for adjusting said bearing ele- 'ments interiorly and exteriorly' of said cage.

2. The combination as specified in claimjl whereineach of said radial slots is bounded at its exteriorby a cam'ming' surface andeach of said lcearing elements is bounded at its exterior side'by a camming surface engaged against the camming surface at the exterior of a corresponding radial slot.

3. In combination, an annular member, a hollowed out cage mounted in said annular member for universal rocking movement and having a longitudinally extending central passageway and radial slots disposed outwardly of and in contiguous relation to said central passageway, circumferentially spaced bearing elements in said radial slots having interiorly facing bearing surfaces of part-cylindrical configuration disposed longitudinally of said cage, there being clearance openings between said bearing elements extending longitudinally through the cage in contiguous relation to said central passageway, and means for adjusting said bearing elemerits interiorly and exteriorly of said cage.

4. The combination as specified in claim 3 wherein each of said radial'slots is bounded at its exterior by a camming surface and each of said bearing elements is bounded at its exterior side by a camming surface engaged against the camming surface at the exterior of a corresponding radial slot.

5. In combination, an annular member, a retaining element supported thereby, a hollowed out cage supported by said annular member and retaining element for universal rocking movement and having a longitudinally extending central passageway and radial slots disposed outwardly of and in contiguous relation to said central passageway, circumferentially spaced bearing elements in said radial slots having interiorly facing bearing surfaces of part-cylindrical configuration disposed longitudinally of said cage, there being clearance openings between said bearing elements extending longitudinally through the cage in contiguous relation to said central passageway, and means for adjusting said bearing elements interiorly and exteriorly of said cage.

6. The combination with an annular member and a retaining element adjustably, removably supported thereby, of a hollowed out cage removably supported by said annular member and retaining element for universal rocking movement and having a longitudinally extending central passageway and radial slots disposed outwardly of and in contiguous relation to said centralpassageway, circumferentially spaced bearing elements in said radial slots having interiorly B facing hearinggsurfaceszoipartycylindrical con- REFERENCES CITED figmatmn dlsp-osed 'l-ongltudmany of Saudi cage The following references are of record'i'n the and providing,clearanceopenings between said me of this patent: hearing-elementsin contiguous relation to said central passageway, and means for adjusting said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS bearing elements interiorly' and exteriorly of said Number V Name 7 Date cage. V v 118,077 Vitt Aug. 15, 1871 7,; Thewcombination with an annular member 130,373 Howe Aug, 13, 1872 and; a hollowed out cage supported by said an- 936,286 Amos 1 Oct. 12, 1909 nular member for universal rockingmovement 10 1,219,978 Masters Mar. 20, 1917 and having a longitudinally extending central 1,304,832 Weibull May 27, 191 9 passageway and radial slots disposed outwardly 1,356,561 Sanford Oct. 26, 1920 Qfand in contiguous relation to said central 1,778,452 Ernst Oct. 14, 1930 passageway, circumferentially spaced bearing 2,382,773 Chambers ug- 19 elements in said radial slots having interiorly 15 2,400,506 Heim May 21, 1946 racing-bearing surfaces of'part-cylindrical con- 2,448,341 Yeomans Aug. 31, 1948 figuration disposed longitudinally of said cage to FOREIGN PATENTS v be s tuated upon a shaft in supportmg relation V e thereto and providing clearance openings be- Number C y Date tween-said bearing elements in contiguous rela- 20 65306 Germany, "."'T---- r 9 an-1:05am central passageway, and means for 336314, Great 1929 adjusting. said bearingelements interiorly and exteriorly of said cage. V

EWALD A.-ARP., 

